Lee: Busy day?
I have to wait about ten minutes, but his response comes through.
Quill: Busy morning. I just finished my stuff for today, what about you?
Lee: Same. I’m done until a new assignment comes in.
Quill: Oh yeah? You got any big plans for the rest of the day?
Lee: No, I’m just hanging out here. My apartment is empty for the first time in what feels like forever.
Quill: You want company?
Do I want company? Of course I do, but is that a smart idea? I think it over for a minute before throwing caution to the wind.
Lee: Sure. I’ll drop a pin.
Quill: Be there in ten.
Tossing my phone to the coffee table, I begin to run around my apartment making sure everything is in its place. Thankfully I felt so good this morning I did my makeup and hair. My curls look amazing, and the natural makeup is enough to cover the almost black bags under my eyes. I’m wearing leggings and an oversized ‘Boston University’ crew neck that I got from an old boyfriend years ago. It, along with my thirty other oversized crewnecks, is basically my unofficial uniform. The sleeves are big enough so you can’t see the abnormality in my arm. It’s my go-to when I’m around people who don’t know.
Ten minutes later, on the dot there’s a knock on my front door. My hands shake slightly as I unlock and then pull open my front door. The sight before me almost knocks me back a step. Mac is hot. It’s undeniable between his shaggy hair, piercing eyes, and strong jaw covered in a closely kept trimmed beard. His black thermal Henley fits him just right. The long sleeves just slightly stretch around his upper arms and chest, but otherwise falls perfectly over his stomach, cutting off right at his hips where gray jeans sit hugging hislegs and thighs like they were made just for him. His black and white Vans cover his feet. As I make my way back up to his face, I notice a black beanie sitting just right on his head so the hair at the back of his neck curls slightly under it, and his hair at the front is pushed back under the hat.
“You done checking me out yet, Beautiful?” He jokes. His eyes sparkle with amusement.
“Shut up.” I grumble and step aside so he has room to come in. His hands come up slightly before dropping back down.
“Can I hug you?” He asks, catching me off guard.
“Of course.” I smile at him. Why are we being so awkward?
The moment Mac wraps me up in his arms and mine hug around his waist, I can’t help the way my body sinks into him. He feels like safety, protection, and coming home after a long trip away. He feels familiar, with a slight buzz of current simmering just under the surface. All too soon he pulls away, but not before he buries his face into my hair and inhales.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a good hugger?” He laughs before continuing, “I swear that hug felt so good. Thank you.”
Leave it to him to find a way to compliment everything I do, even something as simple as a hug.
“No, but thank you for telling me. I don’t like touching people for the most part, but that hug felt good.”
I lead him into the living room where we both settle on the couch, turning so our backs are on the armrests and looking at each other.
“So, what do we do now…” I ask, laughing nervously.
“This doesn’t have to be weird, Lee. We’ve been friends for over a year and a half at this point. We can just hang out. There doesn’t have to be any pressure that you don’t wanthere.”
“But what do you want?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
He oozes confidence as he thinks on my question. Meanwhile, I’m trying my hardest not to start biting my thumbnail.
“I want to take things at your pace. I’m attracted to you, and I don’t plan on that being a secret. At the same time, I’m not going to make this uncomfortable. I’m good with friendship, then maybe one day you’ll be ready for something more. When that day comes, you just say the word and I’ll take it over from there. If that never happens and you always just want to be friends, that’s okay too. You call the shots here, Lelonie.”
My eyebrows shoot to my hairline. He just admitted that he’s attracted to me. This six foot four, pure muscles and sex god just admitted to being attracted to a mere mortal like myself. Yeah, I want more. I want to climb this man like a tree, but I reel that in because I don’t even really know him at a face to face level. We can be friends for now, then see where it goes from there.
“I’d like to get to know each other on a deeper level if that’s okay.”
“Like a my lips on your lips level?” He waggles his eyebrows. “Because I’m down for—”
“No. I mean yes, maybe, eventually. Stop! You’re making me nervous!” I laugh and he smirks at me before picking up my remote and tossing it to me.
